Traction-wheel.



J. FAIR. TRACTION WHEEL. AM'LIOAIION FILED AUG. 8, 1910. RENEWED MAY 14,1914. 1 ,1 1,0, 1 96.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

JAMES FAIR, OF NEAR SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '8, 1914'.

- Application filed August 8, 1910, Serial No. 576,158. Renewed May 14,1914.- Serial No. 838,620.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES FAIR, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing near San Jose, in the county ofSanta Clara. in the State of California, have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Traction-Wheels, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a traction wheel which is bothsimple in de sign and comparatively cheap to 1nanufac ture, and whichhas certain advantages over other traction wheels as will hereinafterappear.

In the accompanying drawings, which fbrm a part of this specification,like reference letters indicate corresponding parts.

Figure l is a plan View of my traction wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same.

In the drawings A A are rims of the same diameter and size in whichnotches are cut on the outer edge to receive the blades B. The rims A Aare constructed so as to present the relatively sharp narrow edges ofthe rims to the ground when the wheel is in operation, thereby avoidingthe necessity of a wide surface or face to the wheel that i might holdthe dirt and cause it to pack. Another advantage of narrow rims is thatthey cut into the ground and prevent the wheel from slipping sidewise.These narrow rims A A also allow the blades B to enter the ground withthem and thereby (to velop the wheels full traction cfliciency ratherthan hold said blades up out of the ground and become clogged with(lll't or permit the wheel to slip on grass or other slippery surface,as in the forms where the rim presents a flat unperforated face to theground. The blades B are secured in slots C by angle plates D bolted toB and A A, or said angle plates are fastened in place by any othersatisfactory method such as brazing. The blades B are preferably placedso as to extend beyond the rims A A. so as to increase the groundcontact of the face of the wheel. The blades B extexul diagonally orobliquely across the face of the Wheel rather than straight across it sothat when the wheel is in motion the end of the blade V may be incontact with the ground before the end of the next blade "3: leaves theground, thereby avoiding the slight jar that would result when the.wheel was in motion from having the blades run straight across. In oth rwords, parts of two or more blades are always in contact with thesurface of the ground even when the latter is hard and unyielding.

As intimated above, I prefer to secure the blades B to the rim sectionsA by means such as the angle pieces D. the arms or branches of which arebolted or riveted to the sides of the blades or tread pieces and to thesides of the rims respectively. The blades are set in the notches orrecesses of the rims in such a Way that their outer edges aresubstantially flush with those of the rims. whereby the rim edges form apart of the tread surface in addition to and directed transversely ofthe blade edges, for the purpose hereinbefore explained. As thusconstructed the face of the wheel is free from pockets and thereforedoes not catch or collect the soil and become clogged like wheels whosecross blades are fastened to the, face of the outer edges of the rimsand which leave more or less surface or face of the wheel to bepresented to the ground. thereby tending to unduly press or bake theground over which the wheel runs.

Blades B I5 may be fastened so as to be readily removed from the rims AA and slots by taking out the bolts or rivets which are run through theplates D and rims A A and blades B. By taking out the certain blades llor inserting more blades the space K between the blades may be quicklywidened or narrowed, thus allowing the wheel to be readily adapted tothe different conditions of soil over which the wheel runs.

E E are steel rods running diagonally between the two rims A and A.These rods may be numerous and large and of such material as may benecessary. The preferable Way of constructing the wheel is with a hub (1having flanges F I of any suitable material connected by spokes H withthe rim A A.

L is a space between and separating the rims A A. This space may be aswide or narrow as desired. This since permits the soil or rocks tofreely pass between the rims at the point of contact of the wheel withthe earth. By reason of the space L and the space K the face of theWheel cannot become clogged with dirt or other material but is alwayskept clear so that the rims A A and the blades B may etfcctually gripthe surface of the earth when the wheel is in operation.

My improved traction wheel is to be more adapted.

The main object of the construction of the wheel is to get the greatestamount of traction or grip with the least amount of weight and surfaceor face exposure to the wheel and with the least amount of baking of thesoil over which the wheel passes.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as new and which Idesire to secure by Letters Patent is,--

A traction wheel comprising a hub, spokes radiating therefrom, fiatcircular rims carried by said spokes, said rims being relatively Wide ina radial direction of the wheel and relatively narrow in an axialdirection of the wheel, said rims'provided with radial slots, and fiattransverse obliquely set blades engaging in said slots with theirextremities projecting beyond the rims, said blades being relativelyWide in a radial direction of the wheel and relatively narrow in acircumferential direction of the wheel, the tread portion of the bladesbeing substantially [lush with the tread portion of the rims.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature in the presence of'twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES FAIR.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. Cnornnxs, EDWIN A. VVILcoX.

